Collapsible thread feeding appliance for sewing machines



R. PICCIANO ET AL Sgpt. 16, 1952 COLLAPSIBLE THREAD FEEDING APPLIANCE FOR SEWING MACHINES 2 QSHEETSESHEET 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1951 Patented Sept. 16, 1952 .ZUNITEDJ'STATE'S PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE THREAD FEEDING APPLIANCE V FOR SEWING MACHINES Robert Picciano, Bronx and Irving Abramowitz,

Brooklyn, N. Y. I

. ,Atpua y-1 1951, Serial No. 205,756 9 Claims. (01.112-218) This; invention relates to new and useful improvements in sewing machine attachments; and, more particularly, the aim is to provide a novel and valuable thread feeding appliance for use in connection with a home sewing machine thereby to make possible thesupply of one or more continuous threads each many times the length of that wound on the usual wooden spool. A continuousythread of a length many times that at last menticned'is commonly wound on a conical shell of cardboard, papier-mach or'the like, and these windings of thread are known in the sewing, knitting and kindred art as cones.

' The present invention proposes, for use in com b-ination with a sewing machinetable top, an ad justable telescopic stand, which inuse will be highly efficient in coacting with one or'aplur'ality of cones then-onsaid'table top', by guiding the threads therefrom to the sewing machinej'but which between uses may bequickly' and easily collapsed relative to'asuitable support anddown into 'a compartment below said'table top) A feature of the invention is'that, 'with the sewing machine, as aforesaid a domestic or home one, ofthe typehaving a lowerable sewing head and also having one-'ormore hinged extension leaves to be swung down parallel with and to overlie thesewing machine table top'when the sewing head has been swung down to'become lowered below said table top, said telescopic stand isso constituted that in collapsing the same it may be so much collapsed that no interference is offered therebyto full swinging down thereover of said extension leaf or leaves.

-A further feature of the invention is that a special-carrier is afforded for each cone and its shell. and a mounting means for each of said carriers is partially carried by the latter and and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various'novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.-

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

' Fig. 1 is a front elevation of ahome sewing machine, of the kind having a lowerable sewingmae chine head and also having 'a hinged extension y Fig. 3 is anenlarged vertical'sectiontaken subpartially carried by the sewing machine table top, for securely yet readily removably mounting a plurality of cones in thread supply positionfol lowing upward and outward swinging of said extension leaf'or leavesand raising of the sewing machine head for upward projection in working position above the said table top; in this connection the arrangement beingsuch that when said carriers are removed from the said table top, as between uses of the'sewinginachine, no interference is offered by said mounting means to swinging down thereover of said extension leaf for leaves. .h Various other features and advantages will be expressly pointed-out or become apparent hereinafter. i

T For further. comprehension- 0f. the invention,

s'tantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

- Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. "2, withfsai'd extension leaf still as inFig 2, but with-the sewing head lowered, the cones and their'carriers removed, and the telescopic stand fully collapsed.

Fig. 5, drawn to about twice the scale of Fig. 3, is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. a

Fig. 6 illustrates on a fu'rtheenlarged scale and in top perspective" certain of the parts at the upper end of the telescopic stand as expanded Fig. '7 is an axial sectional view of the'cone carrier; with the cone indicated in-dot and dash.

Fig. 8 is a view like Fig. 5, but with the teles'copic stand fully collapsed and with the cones and their carriers removed.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged'fragmentary detail section, taken axially of the telescopic stand'on the line 9-9-of Fig. 5. 1 m

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section, taken on theline ill-40 of Fig. 9. i :Fig. ll is a detail section taken on the line ll---llofl3ig.8. 1

' Referring now to the drawings more in detail, a domestic or home type sewing machine is shown as including almain body lfi, carrying upper-an'd lower drawers l'fi land I6 and having a. table top IT, a lowerable sewing headl8, and-an extension leaf l9, hinged as at 20 to the table top "H.

The adjustable telescopic thread stand as slio'w'n has a lower section 2|, an intermediate section 22, and an upper section 23; the section 4 as by a pivot pin 5 I. At its outer end each of said arms 49 is formed to present a thread-guiding split eye 52.

In the table top I! is :a hole 53 for the upward passage therethrough of the section 23 and the upper portion of the sect'ion22 of the telescopic stand when said stand is fully upwardly extended as in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.

When said stand is thus extended, and the two thread cones 37 together with their carriers V have been mounted :as shown in Fig. 5, that is,

The bracket 29 is fixed to the front side of a There is a hole 32 and a hole 33 through the table top H.

Each of said holes 32 and 33, both alike, is provided for having inserted down into the same a pin 34 fixedly dependent from a non-rotating carrier 35 for a cone of thread; each of the latter comprising as shown and as is well known a cardboard or like shell 36 on which is Wound the thread 31'. With said shell 36 engaged as indicated in Fig. 5 with the carrier ,35, it is securely yet readily detach-ably carried thereby, and with the pin 34 engaged with hole 32 or 33 the carrier 35 is securely yetread-ily detachably carried bythe table top H.

h The stand section 22 near its upper end (Fig. 9) is reduced in diameter as at 38 to have at its top a neck 39 for slidably snugly embracing the main portion of the length of the stand section 23. The said section 23 at its lower portion is outwardly flared as at 49, and said flared portion 45 is subdivided intoa plurality of fingers 4| of arc-uate cross-section extending longitudinally of thesaid section. This sub-division results from a plurality of uniformly spaced longitudinally extending slits 42. Said fingers are spring fingers, because the section 23 is made of resilient metal; and said spring fingers are resiliently biased-t0 exert suificient pressure against the inner surface of the section 22 to frictionally hold the sectic-n 23 at any rotational adjustment relative to the, section 22 and also at any adjusted extent of upwardprojection beyond the upper end of the section 22. g 7

Nevertheless, the section 23may not ever be upwardly wholly withdrawn from the section 22 due to the said top neck 39 of the-latter being of less internal diameter than the external diameter of the lower flared portion 40 of the section23. v V

As indicated in the drawings (particularly see Fig. 5) ,thesame features are present as between thegsections 2| and 2.2; thatis, the section 2| near its upper end is reduced in diameter to have at its top a neck corresponding to the neck at the top of the section 22. Also, the section 22 is outwardly flared, slitted and tensi-oned at its lower portion in a manner corresponding to that described for the lower portion 40 of the sectio-n'23.

The upper stand section 23 near its upper end is reduced in diameter to have at its top a neck 44 for gripping :a short rod 45 at its lower slightly enlarged portionA-t. Said neck. at its top is crimped over as indicated in Fig. 9, and the rod 451s tightly anchored at the top of the section 23' in any suitable way, as by brazing.

, The top of the rod 45 is cylindrically'enlarged as at 41 and thereslotted as at 43, and the inner ends of two like swing arms 49 are pivotally mountedon' the said rod and in said slot (Fig. 6)

with the dependent pins 34 of said carriers inserted down into the holes 32 and 33 of the table top H, the swing arms 49 may be swung to diverge as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 so as to dispose the split eye 52 at the outer end-of eachof said arms properlyrelative to a thread 3'1 from a different one of the two cones 37. One of said threads 3'! may-be sent to the sewing head |8,'-for passage relative to the usual guiding and tensioning means of the latter, to the needle; while the other of said threads 31 may be used for extension toward the bobbing winding mount, preferably after passage through suitable guiding and tensioning means also on-the head I8. Said bobbin windin mount, conventionally has such a location as that indicated at 54 in Fig. 3. I

As sewing proceeds, the thread 31* engaging one of said eyes 52 and sent therefrom to the needle is guided by said eye so as to be smoothly unwound rfrcm the cone 31 which carries said thread, without entanglement or snagging anywhere. Also, during bobbin winding, the thread 37? engaging. the other of said eyes 52 is guided therefrom so as to be smoothly unwound from the other cone 31, without entanglement or snagging anywhere. y

When use of the sewing machine is to be discontinued after .a period of use thereof, the two carriers 35, each with the cone 3'! carried thereby and said cones shell 36, are lifted clear of the table top ll for storage in a convenient place, as in either or both .of the drawers It and I6 and, following redisposition of the two arms 49 to extend them upwardly parallel one with another and vertically above the rod45, the telescopic stand is downwardlycollapsed into a compartment 55 (Fi .3) to become arranged asshown in Figs. 4 and 8, with the two eyes 52 in the hole 53 and withthe topsof said eyes below the upper surface of the table top H, so as notto interfere in any way with return of the extensionleaf l9 from its broken line position (Is Fig. l) to its full. line position in Fig. 1. Thus, as shown in that iew, when the sewing machine is out of use, its appearance is exactly as usual, with the topnof the swun over leaf l8 presenting itself as a plain an smooth tabletop.

As will of course be understood, the sewing head 18 will be lowered, in the direction of the arrow 55 of Fig.3, so as to be wholly out of the way, as shown in Fig. 4, before the extension, [9 is-swung back to its full line position in Fig. 1. Said head [8 a lowered lies below a main opening 51. in the table top H. A main plate portion of the head [8 is ordinarily, as shown, swingably connected to the table top I? by a pair of curved, horntype hinges 58 familiar in the cabinetmaking, art; while alsoordinarily, as shown,

a panel 53' is provided at the opening 5'1, hinged to the table top 11 as at .60. Said paneLhaving a step (6|, Figs. 3 and 4) is for being raised preparatory to lowering ofthe head l8, to clear the latters path of downward swing, and, similarly, v forbeing raised preparatory to. raising of ageless-9 the head 18. In raising the head IS, the latter is preliminarily first raised to incline its main plate. portion downwardly toward the hinges 58,

' next the panel 59 is lowered to the horizontal, and

then the head I8 is lowered to become disposed as in Fig. 3, with its front edge coming to rest on the step or ledge 61 of the panel.

. Despite the fact that 'the'telescopic stand, including the two split eyes 52, is, as above explained, wholly concealed when the sewing machine is out of use and arranged as'in Fig. '1 to constitute as usual a decorative piece offurniture of 'the side table type, and despitejfthe fact that even with the leaf [8 extended as at [8 in Fig. 1 no part of said telescopic stand projects to any extent above the table top H, with the tops of the split eyes 52 below the top of the hole'53, nevertheless, when sewing is to be resumed, the said stand may be erected and its arms 49 swung to diverge as desired, substantially instantaneously. In this connection, afeature of the invention isa shaping of said hole 53 so that the same has a forwardly upwardly inclined wall portion 62. 'This provides a simple, inexpensive, conveniently usable and hence highly practical means whereby, as 'by insertion of ascrew driver or like tool down along said wall portion 62,-an eye 52 may be engaged and quickly raised, by a prying thrust of said tool,

and then forced to a position high enough to permit the arms 49 to be manually grasped and pulled upward to erect the telescopic stand. 7

While we-h'ave' illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to head may be lowered, and 'an' extension leaf hingedly connected to. said table top for being swung to lie over the latter following lowering of said head, comprising, in combination with means incorporating three holes in said table top,

one of said holes extending all the way through said table top and said main body having therein a' compartment extending downwardly below the last-named hole, a cone carrier having a de- -pendent projection for downward insertion in either of said holes other than the said lastnamed one, said carrier including a portion about which the lower end portion of a thread cone is iittable -to dispose said cone upright above said support when said projection is inserted in said hole, an adjustable stand'including a plurality of telescopically relatively movable sections, a

thread guiding means at the upper end portion of said stand, and means for anchoring the lower ,end portion of said stand in said compartment to secure the stand for vertical upward erection through said last-named hole.

2. A thread supply attachment for a home sewing machine of the type including a lowerablehead, a main body having a table top provided with a main opening'through which said head may be lowered, and an extension leaf hingedly connected to said table top for being swung to lie over the latter following lowering of 6 said head, comprising, in combination with means incorporating three holes in said table'top,'one of saidholes extending all the way through said table top and said main body having therein a compartment extending downwardly below the last-namedhole, a cone carrier having a dependent projection for downward insertion in 'either of said holes other than the said lastnamed'one, said carrier including a portion about whichthe lower end portion of a thread cone is fittable to dispose 'said'cone upright above said support'when said projection is inserted in said hole,"an adjustable stand including a plurality of telescopically relatively 'movable sections, a

threadfguiding means at the upper end portion of said stand, and means for'anchoring the lower endportion of said stand in said compartment tosecurfedhe stand for vertical upward erection through said last'n amed hole, said stand including a lower sectionpa middle section slidable and rotatable in said lower section and an upper section' slidable and rotatable in said middle section;

'3'. A thread supply attachment for a home sewing machine of the type including a lowerable head, a main body having a table top p ovided with" amain opening through which said head may be lowered, and an extension leaf hingedly connected tosaid table top for being swung to lie over the" latter following lowering of "said 'head, comprising, in combination with means incorporating three holes in said table top, one of said holes" extending all the way through said table top and said main body having therein a compartment extending downwardly below the last-named hole, a cone carrier having a dependent projection for downward'insertion in either of said holes other than the said last-named one,

said carrier including a portion about which the tion, said thread guiding mean including a swing arm carried by said stand near its top. I 4. A thread supply attachment for a home sewmg machine of the type including a lowerable head, a main body having a table top provided with a main opening through which said head may be lowered, and an extension leaf hingedly connected to said table top for being swung to lie over the latter following lowering of said head, comprising, in combination with means incorporating three holes in said table top, one of said holes extending all the way through said table top and said main body having therein a compartment extending downwardly below the lastnamed hole, a cone carrier having a dependent projection for downward insertion in either of said holes other than the said last-named one, said carrier including a' portion about which the lower end portion of a thread cone is fittable to means at the upper end portion of said stand, and means for anchoring the lower end portion of said stand in said compartment to secure the stand may be lowered,and an extension leaf hingedly connected to said table top forbeing swung to lie over the latter following, lowering of said head, comprising, in combination with means incorporating three-holes in said table top, one of said holes extending'all the way through saidtable top and said main body having therein a compartment extending downwardly below the lastnamed hole, a cone carrier having a dependent projection for downward insertion in either of said holes other than the said last-named one,

said carrier including'a portion about which the lower end portion of a thread cone is fittable to dispose said cone upright above said support when said projection is inserted in said hole, an adjustable stand including a plurality of teles'copically relatively movable sections, a thread guiding means at the upper end portion of said stand, and means for anchoring the lower end portion of said stand in said compartment to secure the stand for vertical upward erection through said last-named hole, said stand including a lower section, a middle section slidable and rotatable in said lower section and an upper section slidable and rotatable in said middle section, said guide means incorporating a split eye formation, there being an arm pivotally connected at one, end to stand near the top of the latter, said arm carrying said formation near its other end.

6. A thread supply attachment for a home sewfing machine of the, type including a lowerablev head, a main bodychaving a table top provided with a main opening through which said head may be lowered, and an extension leaf hingedly connected to said table top for being swung to lie over the latter following lowering or said head, comprising-in combination with means incorporating three holes in said table top, one of said holes extending all the way through said table top and said main body havin therein a compartment extending downwardly below the last-named hole, a cone carrier having a dependent projection for downward insertion in either of said holes other than the said lastnamed one, said carrier including a portion about which the lower end portion of a thread cone is fittable to dispose said cone upright above said support when said projection is inserted in said hole, an adjustable stand including a plurality of telescopically relatively movable sections, a thread guiding means at tho upper end portion of said stand, and means for anchoring the lower end portion 'oisaid stand in said compartment to secure the stand for vertical upward'erection through said last-named hole, saidstand includinga lower, section, a middle section slidable and rotatable in said lower section and an upper section slidable and'rotatable in said middle section, said guide means incorporating a split eye formation. there being an arm pivotally connected at one end to said stand near .the top of the latter, said arm carrying saidiformation near its other end, said upper section having an enlarged'lower end slit at a plurality of places longitudinally, of said section, said enlarged lower end being resilient to establish between said slits a plurality orsp'ring fingers biased toward distention of said enlargedlowerend and said middle section at its upper end having aneck of less internal diameter than the external diameter of the portion of said upper, section just above its sai'd'enlarged lower end 7. A thread supply attachment for a homesewing machine of the type including a lowerable head, a main body having a table top provided with a main opening through which saidhead may ,be lowered, and an extension leaf hingedly connected to said table top'fcr being swung to lie over the latter'following lowering of said head, comprising, in combination with means incorporating three holes in said table top,, one of said holes extending all thelway through said table top and said main body having therein a compartment extending downwardly below the last-named hole, alike plurality of cone carriers each having a downward projection for insertion in a different one of said holes otherthan the said last-named one, each of said carriers including a portion aboutgwhich the lower; end portion of a thread cone is fittable to dispose said cone upright above. said support whensaid projection'of that carrier is inserted inone of said holes, an adjustable stand including a plurality of vertical telescopically relatively movable sections, means for anchoring the'lower end portion of said stand in saidjcompartmentto secure the stand for vertical upward erection through said last-named hole, and thread'guidingmeans including a plurality of swing arms rotatively carried by said stand near its top, means for pivotally mounting saidarms near the upperend of said stand, and thread, guiding formations at the outer ends of said arms. j V V V c 8. A thread supply attachment for a horn sewing machine of the type including a lowerable head, a main body having a table top'provided with a main opening through whichsaid head may be lowered, and an extension'leaf'hingedly connected to said table top for being swung to lie over the latter following lowering of said head, comprising, in combination with means in:- corporating three holes in said table to'p,,one of said holes extending, all the way through said table top and said main body having therein a compartment extending downwardlybel'ow the last-named holeya cone" carrier having a dependent projection iorndownward insertion in either of said'holes' other thanthe said lastnamed one, said carrier including aportion about which the lower end portion of a thread cone is fittable to dispose said cone upright above said support when said projection is inserted in said hole, an adjustablestandincluding a plurality of telescopically relatively movable-sections, a

- thread guiding means at the upper end portion of said stand, and means for anchoringthe lower end portion of said stand'in said'compartment to secure the stand for vertical upward'e'rection through said last-named hole, said last-named hole having an obliquely inclined wall portion.

9. A thread supply attachment for a-home sewin machine of the type includinga lower-able head, a main body having a table top provided with a main opening through which said-head may be lowered, and an extension leaf hingedly head, comprising, in combination with means in-' corporating three holes in said table top, one of said holes extending all the way through said table top and said main body having therein a compartment extending downwardly-below the last-named hole, a like plurality of cone carriers each having a downward projection for insertion in a different one of said holes other than the said last-named one, each of said carriers including a portion about which the lower end portion of a thread cone is fittable to dispose said cone upright above said support when said projection of that carrier is inserted in one of said holes, an adjustable stand including a plurality of vertical telescopically relatively movable sections, means for anchoring the lower end portion of said stand in said compartment to secure .the stand for vertical upward erection through said last-named hole, and thread guiding means including a plurality of swing arms rotatively carried by said stand near its top, means for pivotally mounting said arms near the upper end of said stand, and thread guiding formations at the outer ends of said arms, the said last-named hole having an obliquely inclined wall portion.

' ROBERT PICCIANO.

IRVING ABRAMOWITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

